# NTSB ERA12CA228: Piper PA-28-151, N832KF, Charleston, SC, March 15, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 15, 2012, 14:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Charleston, SC - Coordinates: 32.700553, -80.001663 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7006&lon=-80.0017&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report June 28, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 83147 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12CA228 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83147/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83147 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA228 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-151, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=7102805), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-151, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=7102805), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-151, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7102805), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot stated that the airplane touched down hard, bounced, and floated sideways before touching down again on the right main landing gear then the nose landing gear. The airplane's nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane came to rest upright on the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the engine firewall. The owner of the airplane stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The student pilot was conducting a solo cross-country flight. He entered the traffic pattern at the destination airport and stated that, while on final approach to the runway, he was "crabbing" the airplane. The pilot stated that the airplane touched down hard, bounced, and floated sideways before touching down again on the right main landing gear, then the nose landing gear. The airplane's nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane came to rest upright on the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the engine firewall. The owner of the airplane stated there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N832KF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N832KF-2018-01-09), registration cancelled 2018-01-09, S/N 28-7515163, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-151 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-151](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-151) (registry code 7102805) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7515163 - Airframe hours: 4227 - Engines: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Hilton Head Flyers LLC - Registered owner: Hilton Head Flyers LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 18, 2012 - Departed: LQK, Pickens, SC - Destination: JZI, Charleston, SC - Airport: JZI, Charleston Executive, runway 09, 5,350 × 100 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 50; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 27 total, 27 in this make and model, 6 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.29 inHg - Observed at: JZI ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20120315003869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120315003869A), Mar 15, 2012: Piper PA-28-151, James Island, SC, Substantial damage. Attempting to land, the student pilot was fighting a crosswind. Compensating for the crosswind, the pilot was crabbing the aircraft. His first initial contact… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 22, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83147. 1.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 645 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40366656&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (Airplane information provided by owner) (item 2, .PDF, 113 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40366657&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20(Airplane%20information%20provided%20by%20owner)-Master.PDF - Photo - Courtesy of FAA (item 3, .PDF, 252 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40366658&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20-%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 4, .PDF, 105 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40366659&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.